Pic Of The Week: Lotus Elan
We compare Lotus's brave new world with its illustrious past
We probably should have brought you an example of Lotus's bold new future as POTW before now, being as it was unveiled a good couple of weeks ago.
But Hethel's unveiling of five new models was a bit too much for our delicate constitutions to take in and it's taken until now to digest all the info and pick the pic we want.
And here it is - the Lotus Elan. To be frank, we struggled to choose between the five new models (not least because they all look remarkably similar to one another), but in the end we plumped for the Elan for the rather girly reason that the yellow makes it a more striking wallpaper than the silver-grey of the other new Lotuses.
The big question is, how does the 444bhp, 194mph(!) new Elan measure up to Lotus's previous products of the same name? We hear the argument for it bettering the Front-wheel drive 1989 attempt, but is it going to be sweeter than the 1960s original? We seriously doubt that...
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Beautiful cars though and a great to drive, I learn't about how to fix things when I had those, you had to be an 'enthusiast' or walk!
Much more Esprit successor in looks and performance, but then Lotus already have a new one of those in the pipeline.
The true spirit of Elan lives in the Elise, but even that is growing into a miniature Esprit.
So in 4 years time Lotus will have a range of 5 different Esprits, with slightly different seating configurations, similar performance and idential looks.
Sounds good to me, unless you really want an Elan / Elise.....
I don't doubt the new car is blisteringly quick (especially compared to the original) but it just seems too clinical and doesn't bring anything unique to the party.
It strikes me that you can have this or a Gallardo and then split hairs over which is better at what.
If it's going up against the 911 though, doesn't it need 2+2 seating? That bench in the back doesn't really look like a place for passengers.
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